Editorial: Sex offender program needs federal review

The state of Texas has thrown in the towel on the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, a federal law that was supposed to create a uniform system for keeping track of registered sex offenders nationwide.

Unfortunately, well-meaning Uncle Sam needs to rethink his good intentions — there is too much risk to do otherwise.

Texas is one of five states that has decided to forfeit 10 percent of U.S. Justice Department funds related to the 2006 federal law designed to create a nationwide sex offender registration program.

The state is backing out because, according to the Texas Legislature, the federal program would cost more than $38 million to implement as far as federal requirements and changes. Meanwhile, Texas would lose $1.4 million in federal funds by opting out of the program.

It is a shame public safety — especially when it comes to heinous crimes committed by sex offenders — has to be relegated to dollars and cents, but in this case, the state of Texas has little choice.

The federal government needs to take a cold, hard look at the cost of implementing this nationwide sex offender program and how states should absorb the financial impact, not to mention many of the reported concerns expressed by state officials regarding the inclusion of juvenile offenders.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, there are 47 registered sex offenders in the 79109 ZIP code, which makes up a good chunk of the Amarillo population. In ZIP code 79107, there are 147.

Take a quick glance at the extensive information on registered sex offenders on the DPS website at www.txdps.state .tx.us. Each record includes detailed information on sex offenders, which can be broken down by county, ZIP code and even school area.

Considering many of the crimes that landed these sex offenders on the DPS website were against children and/or young people, it would indeed be dangerous to allow a national program to prove ineffective because of poor planning and funding.

The nationwide sex offender registration program is a good idea that desperately needs federal attention.

On point

The federal government needs to review its nationwide sex offender registration program — the sooner the better.

Local offenders

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, there are 180 registered sex offenders in Randall County and 454 in Potter County.